Wringer



W. K. VOSS Nov. 10, 1936.

WRINGER Filed April 24, 1933 Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 2 Claims.

The invention refers to wringers for laundry machines and the general purpose thereof is to provide devices of this character having improved features for protecting the person of the user against injury.

More specifically stated, an object is to provide a wringer having driven rolls mounted in a frame and means for controlling the operation of said rolls including a member extending transversely of and journaled in the frame on a horizontal axis for rotational movement in one direction to apply spring pressure to the rolls and in the opposite direction to release such pressure, and a switch in control of the circuit for a roll driving motor having a movable contact arranged to be connected with said member only when the contact closes the circuit and said member is in pressure applying position, and spring means exerting a force tending to move said contact to break said circuit.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevation on a reduced scale of a wringer embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through one end of the vvringer taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the switch casing in said figure having one side thereof removed and other sides broken away for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 2 but looking in the opposite direction along the staggered line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the upper portion of said section offset to the left to include the hook and trunnion relationship.

In the drawing, i ll designates the lower section of a wringer frame, said section comprising a base i l and short, hollow side stiles [2. An upper frame section HF embodies end members I3, secured at one side by pivots M (Fig. 2) on the lower section for swinging movement into and out of vertical alinement with the side stiles, and an intermediate connecting member l5 (Fig. 1) having longitudinally extending trunnions l6 (Fig. 2) journaled in the side of the end members i3 opposite the pivots M. The connecting member 55 is in this instance a gently arcuate plate which, when the device is operatively conditioned, occupies a generally horizontal plane across the top of the wringer. The front side of the member l5 may be suitably fashioned as shown in Fig. 1 to provide a hand piece which is convenient to the grasp of the operator for swinging the member l5 upwardly to release wringer pressure, or downwardly to re-establish the operative relationship of parts in a manner to be presently described. A lower wringer roll I! is mounted on a shaft 58, the ends of which are journaled in bearings l9 secured in the side stiles l2. An upper Wringer roll 28 is similarly mounted on a shaft 2| supported by bearings 22 fixed between 5 supports 22 depending from the end members I 3. When the device is operative, the member l5 protectively overlies the upper roll. Preferably the lower roll shaft is driven through conventional gears located in the gear box 23, said gears deriving power from a shaft 24 connected with a motor 25 (Fig. 2).

The rolls operate under an applied spring pressure and means is provided for quickly releasing the pressure from the rolls. As shown in Fig. 2, each side stile has a horizontal wall 25 on the side thereof opposite the pivots it, each wall being apertured, as at 21, slidably to receive a vertical rod 28. A spring 29 encircling each rod bears against the wall 26 and a nut 30 or the 20 like on the lower end of the rod to urge the rod downwardly, this movement being limited by shoulders 3| on the rod above the wall. The upper end of each rod terminates in a lateral hook 322 and the parts are so arranged that the hooks overhang the trunnions IE on the connecting member l5. Said trunnions, at this point, are semi-cylindrical or half round, as indicated at 33, the uncut part being located beneath and in engagement with the hooks 32 when the connecting member !5 is in its normal operating position overlying the upper roll as shown in Fig. 1. When the connecting member is swung upwardly and rearwardly through approximately 180 the trunnions are rotated out of engagement with the hooks and the upper frame section is free to swing upwardly about the pivots M. Reengagement of the hooks and trunnions by a downward swinging movement of the connecting member l5 again places the rolls under an operative spring tension since the trunnions have a cam-like action with the hooks by which the rods 28 are moved upwardly, the spring 29 compressed, and the tension thereof transmitted as operating pressure to the wringer rolls.

A switch interposed in a circuit which is in control of motor operation is connected with the pressure release mechanism and it is preferred that said switch be one in which the contacts have a spring urged, normally open position. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, switch terminals 34, 35, by which the switch is included in the motor circuit shown in Fig. 2, are mounted in a switch casing 36 suitably secured to a side stile to occupy a position at one side of one of the trunnions I6. A contact 31 is permanently spring pressed into electrical connection with one terminal (herein terminal 34) and is movable into electrical engagement with the other terminal 35 by an insulated actuator or controller 38. Said controller extends through the casing, is loosely connected with the contact, as by pins 39, and has a finger piece at one end and a hook 4| at the opposite end located near the adjacent trunnion. The finger piece 48 facilitates manipulation of the switch by the operator in resetting the switch after release thereof or in breaking the circuit independently of the safety release mechanism. A spring 42 exerts a force on said controller for urging the contact 31 away from terminal 35 thereby providing a switch which is normally open. The trunnion opposite the hook 41 carries an angular finger 43 which is disposed generally radially of the trunnion and is engageable with said hook 4! to hold the switch closed only when the trunnion is turned to latch the wringer frame sections together. Hence, when the connecting member I5 is swung to release the latch, rotation of the trunnions moves the finger 43 to release the switch controller 38, and the switch returns to its normally open position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a novel combination of parts has been produced wherein the rotational movement of a part in the release of spring pressure, at the same time stops the roll driving means. Consequently, a person caught by the wringer rolls may readily protect himself against injury since every part of the wringer becomes instantly and simultaneously inoperative.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wringer having separable frame sections supporting wringer rolls, driving means for said rolls, quick release means for applying operative spring pressure to the wringer rolls and for instantly relieving such pressure therefrom including a manually operable member journaled in one section of said frame and having a cam engagement with the other section to apply and release the pressure upon rotational movement in one direction or the other respectively, and a switch controlling the operation of said driving means including a movable contact arranged for connection with said manually operable member to hold said contact in circuit closing position when said member is in the pressure applying position thereof, and a spring exerting its force to move said contact into circuit breaking position when the holding connection is interrupted by rotation of said member.

2. A wringer comprising, in combination, upper and lower frame sections having wringer rolls rotatably supported thereby, a driving motor operatively connected with said rolls, safety mechanisrn for applying and releasing operative spring pressure to said rolls including a member extending across the upper frame section above the rolls and having trunnions near each end journaled in said upper section, interengageable means on said member and upper frame section effective upon rotation of said member in one direction to a normal operative position to apply said pressure, and a circuit controlling said driving motor including a switch having spring-urged means engageable with one of said trunnions when said member is in its normal position to hold the switch closed against the force of the spring and releasable from such engagement to free the switch for spring induced opening movement as said member is rotated to relieve the pressure between the rolls.

WALTER K. VOSS. 

